No Man’s Sky iOS review: A pocket-sized space adventure

The iPhone and iPad versions aren’t stripped-down adaptations either. Hello Games has included more than 40 major updates, including Voyagers, Cosmos and Forsaken, bringing much of the content and features that have transformed the game over the past decade. There are limitations, however, such as the absence of multiplayer. Even so, there’s an extraordinary amount of content here, particularly for newcomers.

How well does it work on an iPhone and iPad?

Perhaps the most impressive thing about No Man’s Sky on iOS is that it requires less than 4GB of storage despite its enormous universe. Much of this is possible because the game uses procedural generation, where planets and landscapes are generated by its underlying systems rather than stored as enormous amounts of data.

Hello Games has also made the game accessible to a broad range of Apple devices, including iPhones going back to the iPhone 11 and several older iPads. That’s quite a contrast to some recent console-quality games on iOS, which typically require newer Apple silicon. Naturally, there are compromises. The mobile version doesn’t quite match the graphical fidelity of its PC and console counterparts, particularly in environmental details, shadows and effects. But it retains the game’s distinctive science-fiction aesthetic, with colourful alien landscapes and the familiar experience of flying from a planet’s surface into space without an intrusive loading screen.

But one area where the mobile version genuinely surprised me is its touchscreen controls. There’s usually an assumption that touch controls are inferior to a proper game controller, and while that’s true for certain aspects of No Man’s Sky, I found that they actually make some parts of the experience more intuitive.

Take inventory management for example. No Man’s Sky involves plenty of collecting, crafting and organising resources, which means you’ll regularly find yourself navigating menus and moving items around. On a console, this involves using the thumbstick or directional buttons, which can feel cumbersome – slow, even. On an iPhone or iPad, being able to tap directly on an item or menu option makes the process feel more immediate.

The experience is even better on the iPad, where the larger display gives the interface more room. Items are easier to select, inventory screens feel less cramped and navigating the game’s many menus is generally more comfortable. I would even argue that certain parts of No Man’s Sky feel more natural using a touchscreen than a traditional game controller.

Of course, touch controls aren’t better at everything. Exploring unfamiliar planets, aiming during combat and piloting a spacecraft still feel more precise with physical controls, while the virtual buttons occupy valuable screen space on an iPhone. That’s less of an issue on the iPad, thanks to the device’s larger screen.

One disappointment is the lack of cross-platform save support. For a game built around long-term progression, not being able to continue an existing PC or console adventure on your iPhone or iPad is a missed opportunity, especially for players who have already invested hundreds of hours into the game.

Final thoughts

At S$29.98 to unlock the full game, I think No Man’s Sky offers considerable value, particularly for newcomers. You can also try the opening portion for free before deciding whether to purchase it, without having to worry about recurring subscriptions.

It’s not a perfect conversion. I’ve mentioned the visuals aren’t quite as detailed as those on more powerful platforms, and the absence of multiplayer and cross-platform saves also makes this version less appealing to existing players.

But I think it would be unfair to judge No Man’s Sky on iPhone and iPad purely as a compromised version of the PC and console game. Inventory management and menu navigation actually feel more intuitive with touch controls. More importantly, No Man’s Sky remains a game that rewards curiosity and patience. It encourages you to explore, experiment and occasionally get distracted by something interesting on a planet you never intended to visit. And now that it’s available on Apple’s mobile devices, you can pick up your adventure whenever you have some free time, wherever you happen to be.

No Man’s Sky is available on the Apple App Store for $29.98.